Thanks for the reply, Jack.
It makes sense. I'd kinda assumed

that vest and raft were standard gear - certainly a lotta aircraft have the liferaft 'built in', or as part of the pilot's survival gear - but it's all extra weight, I guess.
Rob, anything can indeed be rebuilt. However, Mustangs are different to just about everything else because you might just be able to get most of your money back on selling it. Anything a) badly damaged b) not Merlin or common radial powered and c) not having the spares support of more common (e.g. NAA types) is going to cost you more than you could likely get back. The amazing thing is the number of aircraft restored that DO happen. I guess it's a kind of financial lunacy.
